On the one side was a group representing principles of justice, freedom from
tyranny and equality in the face of the law — which they enshrined in a
document that would still be cited across the world 800 years later.
On the other was a man who murdered children, starved imprisoned enemies until
they resorted to cannibalism (allegedly), bankrupted his country and on top
of all that had a tendency to launch surprise visits to the beds of
aristocratic wives.
Given the circumstances, the mock treason trial of the 13th-century barons of
England, to mark the 800th anniversary

A tycoon will give evidence almost a year after his death as he sues Britain for £220 million. Israel Perry had his worldwide assets frozen, including properties on three continents, a luxury yacht and an art collection featuring paintings by the Russian Jewish surrealist Marc Chagall. He claimed that the British authorities wrongly prevented him from investing in lucrative business opportunities.
Perry was jailed for ten years in Israel for his role in a financial scheme involving pensions. He believed that he would die of cancer before his claim reached the High Court in Britain so was give

Charities face criminal sanctions unless they stop bullying the public for
money, their regulator warns today.
The death
of Olive Cooke, Britain’s longest-serving poppy seller, who was
bombarded with begging letters before her suicide in May, could lead to the
first national statutory regime for fundraising, including criminal
sanctions and fines.
William Shawcross, chairman of the Charity Commission, told
The Times that his organisation was willing to regulate
street “chuggers”, door-to-door charity hawkers, call centres and direct
mail appeals if charities fail

One of Scotland’s top lawyers has described the decision to rule out prosecuting the driver in the Glasgow bin lorry crash as “perplexing”.
The Crown Office made clear in February that Harry Clarke will not be prosecuted, even though it has been suggested at the fatal accident inquiry that he had failed to disclose a history of blackouts to his employer. Lawyers have claimed that in light of the evidence presented at Glasgow sheriff court, the decision to rule out charges before the start of the inquiry is baffling.
The Crown says that because he was unconscious at the time, Mr Clarke did no